Tannoy I9 User Manual

USER MANUAL

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Unpacking

3. Low Impedance or 70.7/100V distributed line operation.

4. Amplification and Power Selection (Low Impedance Mode)

4.1 Connectors & Cabling for Low Impedance Operation

5. Voltage and Power Selection (Distributed Line Operation)

Connectors and Cabling for Distributed Line Operation

5.1

6. Polarity Checking

7. Equalisation

8. Dimensions

9. Performance Data

10. Technical Specifications

11. Rigging & Suspension

11.1 General Safety Advice

11.2 i9Y - Wall mount Bracket

11.3 i9 MAB- Multiple Angle Bracket

12. Service Parts & Accessories

13. Warranty

14. Declaration of Conformity

1. Introduction

The Tannoy i9 installation loudspeaker is designed for use in applications requiring high quality music and speech, where wide and controlled coverage is required.

The i9 comprises four 130 mm (5”) low frequency drivers and three 25mm (1”) high frequency drivers. The LF and HF sources are positioned as line source. The coupling effects in the vertical plane result in a narrow and controlled vertical coverage pattern to below 500Hz. The direct radiating drivers provide extremely wide horizontal coverage. The complex frequency shading and integration techniques employed in the internal passive crossover network result in a smooth and uniform frequency response.

The shallow cabinet profile of the i9 loudspeaker allows flexible and discreet installation close to a wall or ceiling. Installation is made simple with a range of flexible mounting and flying hardware.

The controlled dispersion characteristics of the loudspeaker (120°×60°) allows the i9 to be used in highly reverberant environments, by directing the sound into the desired space, whilst minimising reflections from adjacent walls or ceilings. A 5° downward tilt angle on the front baffle allows the i9 to be used close to ceilings without sacrificing vertical coverage

Located in the enclosure is a Tannoy THP60 multi-tap transformer for distributed-line operation. The transformer provides high system sensitivity, a wide bandwidth and dynamic range, with very low insertion loss.

The i9 can easily be switched from operating either as a low impedance (8Ω) or 100V/70.7V distributed-line system, this selection being made (along with the transformer tapping options) via a single rotary switch located on the rear termination panel for quick and simple commissioning.

For applications requiring extended low frequency enhancement, a range of Tannoy sub-bass systems are available and can be used in conjunction with the i9.

2. Unpacking

Every Tannoy i9 product is carefully tested and inspected before being packaged and leaving the factory. After unpacking your loudspeaker, please inspect for any exterior physical damage, and save the carton and any relevant packaging materials in case the loudspeaker again requires packing and shipping. In the event that damage has been sustained in transit, notify your dealer immediately

3. Low Impedance or 70.7/100V distributed line operation?

The i9 can be used as either an 8Ω low impedance or 70.7/100V distributed-line system. The operation mode is selectable via a single switch located on the rear of the cabinet.

Low impedance mode is recommended if the cable runs are relatively short and the number of speakers is small. If, on the other hand, the cable runs are long and the number of speakers large, then a distributed line system is ideal.

The main advantage when operating in low-impedance mode, is the wider frequency and dynamic range the speaker is able to deliver. If, however, the cable runs are long then the sound quality may be compromised due to the increase in cable resistance and the resulting power losses. To keep the load to the amplifier manageable, it is also recommended that a small number of speakers be used, thus avoiding complex series/parallel combinations.

When the number of speakers is large over long cable runs, it is recommended that a distributed (70.7V/100V) system be used. For distributed line, the cable need not have a large cross sectional area as for low impedance, resulting in savings in cable cost. All speakers are placed in parallel with the output of the amplifier, allowing easy installation. Please refer to section 5.2 for installation guidelines. The wattage tappings can be individually adjusted, giving more flexibility within an installation.

4. Amplification and Power Selection (Low Impedance Mode)

As with all professional loudspeaker systems, the power handling is a function of voice coil thermal capacity. Care should be taken to avoid running the amplifier into clip (clipping is the end result of overdriving any amplifier). Damage to the loudspeaker will be sustained if the amplifier is driven into clip for any extended period. Headroom of at least 3 dB should be allowed. When evaluating an amplifier, it is important to take into account its behaviour under low impedance load conditions. A loudspeaker system is highly reactive and with transient signals it can require more current than the nominal impedance would indicate.

Generally, higher power amplifier running free of distortion will do less damage to the loudspeaker than a lower power amplifier continually clipping. It is also worth remembering that a high powered amplifier running at less than 90% of output power generally sounds a lot better than a lower power amplifier running at 100%. An amplifier with insufficient drive capability will not allow the full performance of the loudspeaker to be realised.

It is important when using different manufacturers amplifiers in a single installation that they have very closely matched gains, the variation should be less than +/-0.5dB. This precaution is important to the overall system balance when only a single compressor/limiter or active crossover is being used with multiple cabinets; it is therefore recommended that the same amplifiers be used throughout.

When running low impedance loudspeakers in parallel, care must be taken not to allow the impedance to drop too low, as damage may be sustained by the amplifier. Most low impedance amplifiers will be able to handle loads of 2Ω to 8Ω. This means that when using a 4Ω amplifier, 2 × i7 Contour may be connected in parallel per input, although care should be taken as impedance varies with frequency and at some frequencies the impedance will drop to below 8Ω. For examples simple series/parallel combinations, please see Figures 4b, 4c and 4d.

Figure 4b: Simple parallel connection: 4Ω.

Figure 4c: Simple series

Ω

connection: 16

Ω

Figure 4d: Series Parallel Combination: 8

When operating in low impedance mode the rotary switch on the back of the cabinet as shown in Figure 4a, below should be set to ‘8 ohm’

OFF

8ohm

Transformer Tappings

100V

70V

7.5W 15W

A B

30W

15W

60W

30W

60W

Figure 4a

4.1. Connectors & Cabling for Low Impedance Operation

The i9 is fitted with 4-pole Neutrik Speakon connectors. Speakon has the following advantages over EP and XLR type connectors: All terminations are solderless; this makes life easier at the time of installation or when field servicing is required. Contacts will accept 6 sq. mm wire with an outside diameter of up to 15mm and a current rating of 30 Amps. The pins of the 2 Speakon sockets identified input/output on the rear of the input panel are paralleled within the enclosure. Tannoy have adopted the conventional wiring standard for the i9 product :-

Pin 1+ is Positive Pin 1- is Negative

For a worldwide list of Neutrik distributors see http://www.neutrik.com/

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